If Therese hadn’t admitted to loving this man, Shari would probably leave him stewing in the mess of his own making. But she’d never seen Therese so intense about any other guy. And, even though Shari had just met Brad, he didn’t strike her as the type to pour out his heart to every stranger he met. “You’ve got to expect her to be angry. And I don’t think she’s thrilled that you’re working at the sameschool.”
His laugh was low and bitter. “I don’t want to make things worse for her. I didn’t expect her to kiss me hello, but I thought we could be civil at least. I guess I waswrong.”
Shari was thinking fast. She couldn’t betray Therese’s confidence in any way, but perhaps there was a very slim chance that Therese and Brad could start fresh. What they did with their fresh start was up to them. Only one idea seemed to have any merit. “Tell her you just want to befriends.”
“What? Why would I do that? I loveher.”
“She’s angry with you.” She shot him a glance from under her lashes. “With good cause. But she knows she’s got to work with you, too.” She also thought Therese was terrified of falling back in love with Brad, but she didn’t say so. Her loyalty belonged to Therese. However, if there was any hope of a romance rekindling, it would take time. And if no kindling occurred, it would be easier on everyone concerned if the parties could befriends.
“That’s my advice. Think about it at least. She’s not going to go out with you again, but she might consider beingfriends.”
Shari knew Therese pretty well. If she decided to let Brad back into her life, she was going to want more than friends. But it might do both of them good to get to know each other outside the bedroom before jumping right back in where they’d leftoff.
Brad was staring at her as though perhaps he was a mindreader as well as an amateur athlete. “You might just be on to something there.Thanks.”
“What were you and the guy on the recliner plotting?” Luke asked on the wayhome.
“Not plotting. He broke Therese’s heart, and I suggested instead of trying to get her back romantically, he should settle for beingfriends.”
“Honey, no man who wants to have sex with a woman is going to be happy being herfriend.”
She shot him a surprised look. “It may interest you to know that that works both ways. I suspect that being friends first this time may make them betterlovers.”
Luke’s hand reached for hers. “I found the opposite with you. Now that we’re lovers, I’m liking you better all thetime.”
She laughed, but she thought there was a lot of truth in what he said. It wasn’t just sex with her and Luke. They were becomingfriends.
They were alsoneighbors.
Neighbors, friends andlovers.
She wondered how long they could stay allthree.
